Engine-starting apparatus



March 6, y1928. 1,661,362

G. w. ELSEY ENGINE STARTING APPARATUS Filed July ll7 l924 Patented Mar. 6, 1928.

. UNITED nnsse PATENT' OFFICE GEORGE W. ELSEY, OF ANDRSON, INDIANA, ASSIGNORLBY- ASSIGNMENTS, TO `DELCOREMY CORPORATION, OF DAYTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

ENGINE-STARTING APPARATUS.

Application filed July 11,

This invention relates to electrical starting apparatus for internal combustion engines, and particularlyA to the type of apparatus which includes an electric motor operating a motor pinion normally out of engagement with an engine gear and mov` able intoengagement with said gear for the purpose of cranking the engine.l y 1 The objects of the present invention include meshing the pinionV with the engine gear. by manual operation, anddemeshing the pinion automatically when the engine l starts, regardless of the status of theA member which is manipulated `by the operator. These objects are accomplished in' the present invention by employing arspirally- -splined motor-driven shaft along which the pinion, threadedly connected to the shaft,

is endwise movable into mesh with the `engine gear. A pedal having a yielding connection with a pinion-shifting device is op- @rated to move the pinion into mesh with the engine gear.` `Due to the spiral-spline connection of` the pinion and shaft, the pinion .is automatically demeshed when the engine starts. The yielding connection permits. demeshing the pinion regardless, of yfailure to release the pedal; and, a latch, rendered operative by movement of the `pedal to position to close' the motor switch, engages the `pinion-shifting device, as the` pinion isrdemeshed, tohold the pinion out `of engagement with the enginegear while the pedal is retained in operating position. aReturn `of the dal to normal position re- `leases the latciie from the pinion-shifting device so that the be repeated.'

Further objectsl and advantagesofi the 4 present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference beinghad `to the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred form of embodimentof the 1ent invention is clearlyfshown.

In the drawingsz` starting operation` can ly in sectiomshowing a form of the invention, theipartsbeing in normal position.

lFig. `2 is a view similar toFig. 1 showing 50 parts in engine-cranking position; and n Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3`3 of` Fig. 1. i l.

The internal combustion engine is not pres- Fig. V1 is a fragmentary side view, part- 1924. seriai No. y725,522.v

shown' but is represented by a :flywheel gear 20 adapted to be driven by and drive a motor pinion. 21 threadedly connected with the spirally splined portion 22 of the motor shaft 23 which is journaled in suitable bearings providedby the` housing 2,4 and by an end frame (not shown)` attached to the left handend of the motor iield frame 25. The shaft 23 carries a stop` collar 26 pinned to Vthe shaft for receiving thethrust of the motor pinion 21. Thrust washers 27 are located between the collar 26 and a plane surface v 28 provided by the housing 24.

Housing 24 supports a rod 30 providing a pivot for the forked lever 31 receivedby va groove 32 which is deiined by flanges 33 and 34 extending from `thehub 35 ofthe motor pinion 21.

w I The mechanism forshifting the llever 31 includes a pedal attached toj a rod 4.1 which is connected with a lever 42 rotatable about `the rod 30. i For maintaining the pedal 40 in normal position shown in Fig. 1, there vis provided a spring 43 located between the pedal 40 and a cup-shaped member 44 which encircles the lrod 41 and is supported by the door board 45 of the automobile. The lever 42 is'connected with the lever 31 by a spring which is coiled. around the rod l30. One end 510i the spring 50 slidably enga-ges a hole provided in a stud52 attached to the lever 31.v l The other end 53701:' spring 5() slidably engages a hole 54, see Fig. 3, of a bolt 55 which is adjustably connected with the lever 42. YTo provide this adjustment the lever 42 is provided With'a slot 56f for receivingthe ythreaded shank 57 of the bolt 55. p The spring 50 is initially adjusted by moving the springbolt 55 lalong the slot` 56. .The bolt `55 is securedin adjusted position by the nuts 58.

The lever 42 carriesan adjustable screw 60 for engaging the plunger 61 ofV a motor susV switch 62, secured tothe motor frame 25 by screws 63. The plunger 6 1 is moved bythe operation ofthe pedal lever 42 and sci-ew 60 into the position shrown in Fig.,2 ,Where-,

upon a movable contact Withingtheswitch caseis moved into engagement with the stationary contacts` not shown, the one being connecting the motor swtchwith a battery or other current source. A spring restores the plunger 6l into switch opening position.

To start the engine the pedal 40 is depressed causing the lever 42 to move downwardly. Motion to the lever 31 is transmitted from the lever 4t2 through the spring 50, causing the lever 3l to move counterclockwise and the pinion 2l to move to the right into engagement with the flywheel gear 20. ln ase the teeth of the pinion 2l abut the teeth of the gear 20, therebyy arresting movement oit' the lever 3l. motion of the pedal 40 is continued so that the screw 60 will engage the plunger 61 and close the motor switch. The motor will then rotate the shaft Q3 to cause the pinion 2l to register with the tooth spaces of the gear 20. TVhen this occurs, the spring 50 will quickly move or jump the pinion 2l into engagement with the gear 20.

lVhen` by virtue ot pedal operation. the pinion 2l has been brought into substantial engagement with the gear 20. the operation of' the motor. due to closing the switch G2, will cause the pinion 2l to be rotated into complete engagement with the gear Q0 and against the stop collar 26, then the motor will crank the engine.

After the engine has become self-operative. the pinion 2l will be automatically disconnected from the engine gear due to the superior rotation of the engine gear Q0 relative to the rotation of the pinion 21, and due to the spiral splined connection of the pinion 2l and shaft 23. lVhile the ped'alfiO is depressed. deineshing of the motor pinion Q1 is resisted bv the spring 50. To prevent the return ot the pinion 21 into Contact with the engine gear 2O there is provided a device which includes a pawl pivoted at 7l upon a bracket 72 attached by screws 73 to the housing 24. The pawl 70 is adapted to engage a notch 75 provided bv the lever 3l. rlhe lever 4Q carries a pin 7G tor engaging the pawl 70 and maintaining the pawl out ot the line ot motion of the notch T5 while the pinion 2l is being moved b v the lever 4! into engagement with the flywheel gear 9.0. Fig. Q shows the lever 42 in position `for closing the motor switch. and the pin 76 has been ret `acted 'from the pawl 70 to permit a spring 77. connecting the bracket T2 with the pawl 70. to yieldingly urge the pa wl 70 against the surface 78 ot lever 31.

lVlien the engine becomes self-operative and accelerates ver)v rapidly, the pinion 21 will be thrown to the lett with torce sutlicient toy cause the lever 3l to move into the position fllindicated bv dot and dash lines. The movement will be suilieient to retract the suriacc 78 from the pawl 70 and permit the end of the pawl to be drawn by spring 77 into the notch 75. Therefore the lever 3l will be retained in this position and the pinion 2l out of contact with the gear 20 although the pedal 4() may still be held in engine cranking position. The latcliing position ot the pawl 7() is indicated in Fig. 2 at 7th.

Release ot the pedal 40 allows the spring 43 to return the lever l2 to normal position shown in Fig. l. causing the spring 50 t0 be relieved and the pin 'TG to engage the pawl T0 and move it into an inoperative position. 'lhe spring (55 being released by release of pedal 40. the switch plunger (il will be returned to normal o1' switch opening position.

ln case the engine fails to start after being connected with the motor in the manner described, the failure ot the motor pinion 21 to come out of mesh with the engine. gear will not prevent the release of the pedaly 40 and the disconnection ot the motor from a source of current.

lt is apparent from the Aforegoing' description that the present invention embodies a lstarting apparatus which is exceedingly simple in construction, therefore the cost of manufacture has been materially reduced.

lVhile the form ot embodiment o'f the present invention as herein disclosed. constitutes a preferred torni, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which `Follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

l. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination. a pinion adapted to engage and drive an engine gear and to be driven thereby when the engine becomes self-operative: of a motor; a spil-ally splined shaft operated b v the motor and threadedly connected with the pinion whereby. when the engine drives the pinion, the pinion will be automatically demeshed: av lever for shitting the pinion into mesh with the engine gear; a controlling member tor rendering the m0- tor operative: a spring connecting said member and said lever whereby the latter is, moved b v movement of the member. and demeshing o't' the pinion is permitted regardless of the status ot the control member; a. device tor latehing the lever in pinion nonmeshing position it the member is held in operating position when the engine becomes self-operative; and means 'tor nnlatching said lever by the return of said member to normal position.

2. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, a pinion adapted to engage and drive an engine gear and to be driven thereby when the engine becomes self-operative: ot a motor; a spirally splined shaft operated by the motor and threadcdly connected with the pinion whereby, when the engine drives the pinion. the pinion will be automatically demeslied; a lever for shifting the pinion into mesh with the engine gear; an operating lever for rendering the pawl to move into Contact with the shifting motor operative; a spring connecting said lever when the operating lever is moved into levers whereby the pinion is shifted into position to start the motor, said shifting mesh with the engine gear by the movement lever having a notch for receiving the paWl of the operating lever, and demeshing of the to ret-ain theshiftinglever 4in non-operating 15 plnion is permitted regardless of the status position in case the Vcontrol lever is held in of the operating lever; a latch .pa-wl; means operating position after the engine starts. connected with the operating lever for nor- In testimony v whereof I hereto Aalix my mally holding the pawl ont of Contact with signature. 10 the shifting lever and for permitting the GEORGE WV. ELSEY. 

